Nickel-Catalyzed Aminocarbonylation of Aryl Trifluoromethoxides

Aryl trifluoromethoxides (ArOCF₃) are widely employed in pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals, which leads to their transformation also being attractive. Here we report a nickel-catalyzed aminocarbonylation of ArOCF₃ with amines using inositol hexaformate (HFI) as the CO source, providing a potential approach for the chemical upcycling of these persistent compounds into value-added benzamide derivatives. The reaction exhibits broad compatibility with diverse aniline derivatives, accommodating various electronic and steric demands. This work not only expands the aryl source for amide synthesis from conventional electrophiles to the highly robust ArOCF₃ motif but also offers a blueprint for phenol activation.